Fender shield attaching means



July 15, 1952 (5. w. SCHATZMAN FENDER" SHIELD ATTACHING MEANS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24, 1946 HVEZ'Y C e-oxsih. Jamil/m July 1952s. w. SCHATZMAN FENDER SHIELD ATTACHING IIEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledOct. 24, 1946 July 15, 1952 G. w. SCHATZMAN FENDER SHIELD ATTACHINGMEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 24, 1946 6 60895}! Jay/972M011Patented July 15, 1952 FENDER SHIELD ATTACHING MEANS George W.Schatzman, Detroit; Mich., assignor to Houdaille-Hershey Mich, acorporation of Michigan Application October 24, 1946, Serial No. 705,372

16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to fender and fender skirt for shieldconstructions and more particularly to improved means therein andtherefor comprising novel mechanism for attaching, clamping and latchingthe fender shield to the fender. V I

In the vehicle industry, and particularly in the automobile industry,various means have been utilized to improve the appearance of vehi'clefenders. The usual vehicle fender is provided with an opening whichaffords access to the vehicle wheel, and which permits the readyremoval, or replacement of the wheel in an axial direction. Since thisopening inherently pre-, sents an unattractive outward appearance,detachable fender shields have been employed to substantially 'cover theopening ornamentally.

As the term fender shield shall hereinafter be employed, it refers toany member which is adapted to be secured to a fender or other portionof a vehicle body for the purpose of covering the opening in the, fenderor vehicle body which is provided for access to or removal of a vehiclewheel. Furthermore, as the term fender shall hereinafter be employed, itrefers to any form of wheel fender in its broad sense, whether suchfender be separated from the vehicle body part, partly separated fromthe vehicle body part, or actually an integral part of the vehicle body,and whether or not it projects outwardly away from. the principal bodyportion of the vehicle.

An important objector the present invention is to providea novel fenderand fender shield construction in which the fender shield is secured tothe fender-in a novelmanner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel fender shieldconstruction which is eeonomical t'e 'filanuf'acture, which is ruggedand reliable in use,'and in which the fender shield may be readily andquickly attached to and detached from the vehicle fender.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fender shield carryingnovel mechanism thereon for attaching the same to a fender.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an'ovel mechanismfor detachably securing Corporation, Detroit,

Yet another object of the invention is to provide fender shieldattaching mechanism including a latchingand clamping member which isnormally biased toward non-latching position but is locked againstrelease during service.

It is also an object of the invention to provide novel means in a fenderand fender shield construction for locking the clamping and latchingmechanism against unintentional displacement from latching and clampingrelationship to a fender.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome readily apparent from the following detailed description ofcertain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with theaccompanying three sheets of drawings in Which Figure 1 is a sideelevational view of a fender and fender shield combination according tothe present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, inside elevational view showingthe fender shield and the immediately adjacent contacted portion of thefender; t

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary inside elevational view of thatportion of the fender and fender shield assembly and including thelatching and clamping mechanism and showing the latter in the' servicecondition thereof;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the lineIV -IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along theline V-V of Figure 3 and on a slightly larger scale;

Figure 6 is an inside elevatidnal view of that portion of the structureshown in Figure 5' and demonstrating how a wrench is applied thereto foractuating the latching and clamping mecha- IllSm;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary inside elevational view of a slightly modifiedform of fender and fender shield assembly showing a modified clampingand latching mechanism in its service condition; V

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the lineVIlI,-V1II of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along theline IX-IX of Figure '7; and. e

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken in substantially thesameplane as Figure-9 but showing the latching 7 and clamping mechanismin the open or non-latching position thereof.

In the exemplary form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 6,inclusive, a vehicle fender [5 .having a wheel opening [6 has assembledthere- 3 with a fender shield I1 in the form of a panel which pleasinglycloses the opening.

The fender shield I1 is dimensioned to overlap the fender I5 about theopening I5, and hanger structures I8 and I9 (Figure 2) at the front andrear ends, respectively, of the fender shield support the loweredge'thereof on the fender [5 in position to rock about a substantiallyhorizontal axis into and out of marginal engagement with the fender. Thefront hanger structure I8 comprises a hanger arm 20 which is carried bya lower-edge reinforcing flange 2I on the fender shield l1 and extendsbeyond the forward end thereof to engage a supporting flange structure22 on the adjacent lower edge of the fender. The rear hanger structurecomprises an inwardly extending hanger finger 23 carried by the fendershield and engaging within a hanger bracket 24 carried by the fender. Inassembling the fender shield I1 with the fender I5, the front and rearhanger structures I8 and I9 are first interengaged by suitablemanipulation, the fender shield being held in an outwardly tiltedrelation to the fender. After the hanger structures have beeninterengaged, the fender shield is swung in toward the fender until themargins of the fender shield engage the margins of the fender about thewheel opening I6.

After assembly has been accomplished as just outlined, the attachment ofthe fender shield l1 to the fender I5 is completed by manipulation of aclamping and latching mechanism 25 which is preferably carried by thefender shield at approximately the rear center thereof and includes alatching and clamping member 21 engageable with an inturned marginalreinforcing flange 28 which defines the wheel access opening It in thefender and is preferably of substantially hook shaped cross-section.

According to the present invention, the clamping'and latching member 21is normally biased to assume an inactive position, as shown in dotdashoutline in Figure 4, wherein it fully clears the fender marginal flange28 and thus permits the fender shield I1 to be swung about thehorizontal hanger-bracket axis into and out of the assembled relation tothe fender I5. However, the clamping and latching member 21 is adaptedto be easily and conveniently manipulated from the inactive positioninto a full latching and clamping position'wherein the fender shield I1is held tightly clamped against the fender I5, as shown in full outlinein Figure 4. Furthermore, the latching and clamping member 21 is of suchconstruction that when the fender shield I1 is to be detached, it istemporarily supported, as shown in dash outline in Figure 4, inpartially open or outwardly tilted position by the clamping and latchingmember so that the latter can be con- 'veniently manipulated without anyneed for holding the fender shield against suddenly swinging all the wayopen or away from the fender I5 as an incident to release of theclamping and latching member.

This is accomplished by having the clamping and latching member 21formed as a rod which is rotatably and longitudinally movably supportedby a bracket structure 29' which is preferably in the form of a sheetmetal plate vertically elongated and having a foot flange 30 secured inany suitable fashion as for example by means of rivets 3i to the top ofa reinforcing bar 32 carried by the lower. edge reinforcing flange 2| ofthe fender shield. At its upper end, the bracket plate 29 is formed witha curvate top flange 33 complementary to the upper curvate margin of thefender shield I1 and adapted to fit relatively snugly within thereentrant corner formed by a downturned marginal reinforcing flange 34along the top edge of the fender shield. An anti-rattle cushion orgasket 35 of resilient material such as rubber may be carriedby thefender shield flange 34. Longitudinal side flanges 31 on the bracketplate reinforce the same against bowing. Rotary and vertical bearingsupport for the upper end portion of the clamping and latching rod 21 isafforded by an inwardly right angular, struck-out bearing tongue or ear38 in a horizontal plane centrally of the bracket plate 29 and having abearing aperture 39 through which the rod 21 extends reciprocably androtatably slidably. Thereby, the clamping and latching rod 21 issupported generally parallel to the inner face of the fender shield l1and in the fully assembled relationship of the fender and fender shieldextends vertically beneath the fender marginal flange 28.

For latching and clamping engagement of the fender marginal flange 28,the clamping and latching rod 21 is formed with a cam head 40 which inthe present instance is provided by an integral upward and outwardlycurved upper end portion of the clamping and latching member rod 21,considering this description as applying to the rod while in theclamping and latching service position thereof. The cam head 40 isjoined to the body of the rod by. an inward right angular offsetting armportion 42 adapted to provide a downward movement limiting stop enagageable with the top of the bearing ear 38 in the inactive non-latchingposition of the rod. By reason of the lateral arm 42, the cam head 40 isadapted to be swung into and out of camming relation to the flange 28 byrotation of the body of the rod 21. As shown, a right hand turn of theclamping and latching rod 21 carries the cam head 40 out of cammedclamping and latching relation to the flange 28 and a left hand turneffects the clamping and latching engagement.

Means for normally biasing the clamping and latching rod 21 toward theinactive position, shown in dot-dash outline in Figure 4, hereincomprises a coiled expansion spring 43 which concentrically encirclesthe body of the clamping and latching rod 21 and bears at its upper endagainst the lower face of the bearing ear 38 while its lower end is incompression engagement with a washer 44' held in position by atransverse pin 45 extending through the rod 21 therebelow. The load ortension of the spring 43 is calculated to enable relatively easycompression of the spring by upward reciprocal movement of the clampingand latching rod 21 to carry the cam head 40 into clamping and latchingrelation to the flange 28 and when the cam head has been swung intotight clamping relation to the flange the compressed or loaded conditionof the biasing spring 43 is, of course, maintained.

Means for turning the latching and clamping rod 21 may comprise aterminal member 41 carried by the lower end of the rod and which may beof hexagonal shape and adapted to be engaged by a suitable wrench 48(Figure 6). Access to the terminal member 41 is afforded by having itdisposed below the fender shield flange 2I while the lower end portionof the clamping and latching rod 21 extends through a bearing aperture49 provided therefor in the reinforcing bar 32' and the contiguousportions or the flanges 2| and 30.

Since the action of the loaded biasing spring 43 normally tends to forcethe latching and clamping rod 2'! reciprocablydownwardly and back theclamping head "40 out. of engagement with the flange 28, means areprovided for looking the rod 21 against rotation during service, therebyholding the head 40' against swinging out of its. clamping and latchingposition. In the present instance such means includes a detent type ofinterlock 5 engageable in an axially extending peripheral slot in thelower terminal member 41. In a preferred form, the interlock 50comprises a downwardly struck out tongue or finger integral with one endportion of an elongated spring plate 52 (Figures 3', 5 and 6), theaperture, identified at 53; formed by the striking out of the interlock5a accommodating the clamping and latching rod 21 therethrough. The endportion of the spring plate 52 remote from the interlock 58 is secured,as by means of a rivet 54 to the combined fender flange 2| andreinforcing bar 32, a square washer 55 being interposed between the headof the rivet and the contiguous portion of the spring plate to aflord asecure hold upon the spring plate. A slight upward ofl'set 51 is formedin the spring plate 52 adjacent to the washer 55in order to permit thebody of the spring plate to ride flat upon the bracket foot flange 30,and an aperture 58 in the spring plate affords clearance for the head ofthe rivet 3| in the way of the spring-plate.

As best shown in Figure 6, the detent 50 extends down through therod-bearing aperture 49, which for this purpose is elongatedlongitudinally of the fender flange 2|. The length of the detent is suchthat during the clamping and latching condition of the member 21 itnormally extends well down into the terminal member slot 5| (see Figure3) whereby to hold the member 41 and thereby the rod 21 againstrotation.

To release the interlock 50, the wrench 48 is pressed against a, rightangular foot flange 59 at the lower end of the interlock by whichthe endof the wrench is adapted to force the interlock upwardly out of the slot5|, flexing the spring plate 52 and clearing the terminal member 41 forrotation. Longitudinal right angular reinforcing flanges 60 and 6| areprovided on the side margins of the spring plate 52 to reinforce thesame and maintain it substantially rigid throughout its major length andterminate short of the offset 51 so that the principal flexure of theplate occurs at or adjacent to the offset, thereby carrying theinterlock 5D for movement on a relatively large radius when 'it isdisplaced from or returns automatically to the slot 5| in the flexure ofthe spring plate. A washer 62 may be interposed between the member 41and the flange 2| to reduce frictional contact in the operation of thewrench 48, the washer being appropriately slotted complementary to theslot 5|.

To avoid side play of the clamping and latching rod 21 due to theelongation of the aperture 49, the interlock 50 may be formed with abowed shoulder 63 opposing and engageable slidably with the rod 21 fortaking up the space or slack between the rod and the portion of the slotprovided for operation of the interlock.

When the interlock 50 has been cleared from the interlock slot 5|, andthe terminal member 41 has been turned to release the cam head 40 fromits clamping and latching relation to the fender flange 28, the biasingSpring 43 acts to 6 push the clamping and latching rod 21 downwardlyuntil an. upper terminal end portion or retaining hook '6-4- onithe camhead 40 engages the inner edge of the-flanga28, thereby permitting thefender shield IT to swing outwardly a limited distance but holding itagainst full'displacement, substantially as shown in the dash outlineposition in Figure 4. Then, in order to release. the retaining hook 64from the flange 28, the fender shield I1 is pushed back toward thefender l5 and the hook-is carried inwardly clear. of the flange 23. Thebiasing, spring 43 thereupon causes the clamping and latching rod 2'!.to snap downwardly and entirely clears, the retaining hook 64 and thehead 40 below the flange 28, as shown in. dot-dash outline in Figure 4.The fender shield 11 may then be swung outwardly and released from thehanger structures It and l9. 7

Replacement. of the fender shield I! is simply a reversal of the removalprocess, entailing i merely interengagement of the hanger structures l8and I8. and swinging of the fender shield into the, assembledrelationship with the fender |5, whereupon upward manipulation of theclamping and latching rod 2 in opposition to the biasin spring 43, andengagement of the retaining hook 64 upon the fender flange 28 willretain the fender shield in position to enable free manipulation of thewrench 48 for turning the terminal member 4'! until the clamping, andlatching rod carries the cam head 40 into clamping and latching relationto the flange 28. This effects registration of the interlock slot 5| inthe'terminal member with the interlock :58 so that when the wrench 48 iswithdrawn the interlock 5D follows it into the slot and holds the member41 against rodreleasing rotation.

In the modified form of'the invention shown in Figures 8 to 10;inclusive, substantially the same results are attained Without the useof a spring plate interlock-but the construction and arrangement is suchthat a direct interlocking relationship is effected between the clampingand latching member and the supporting structure therefor. In thismodified construction, moreover, a fender '65 is formed with an inwardly01T- set flange 61 of substantially rabbet groove formation adapted to'receive an angular return bent upper marginal flange 68 on a fendershield 69 which is thereby adapted to lie in substantially flushrelationship to the outer face of the fender 65. An anti-rattle gasket15 is suitably carried by the flange 68.

After the fender shield 69 has been preliminarily assembled with thefender 65 by any preferred expedient enabling the fender shield to berocked about a horizontal axis into fully assembled relationship, such,for example, as by means of end hanger structures on the order of thosealready described in connection with the form of the invention shown inFigure 1 and more particularly illustrated in Figure 2, a latching andclamping mechanism II, which operates on the same principles as thelatching and clamping mechanism 25, is brought into play for latchingand clamping the fender shield in place. To this end, the latching andclamping mechanism comprises a latching and clamping member in the formof a generally vertical rod 12 supported by a vertically elongatedbracket plate 13 formed with an inwardly struck out horizontal bearingear 14. adjacent to its upper end and which is formed with anappropriate aperture and bearing flange 15"for longitudinally rotatablyslidably supporting the upper end portion of the rod 12. Longitudinalside flanges 16 and 11 reinforce'the bracket plate 13 against bowing andthe upper end of the bracket plate is formed with-an engagementflange'18 which is secured within the channel formed by the uppermarginal flange 58 on the fender shield 69. At its lower end, thebracket platel3 isformed with an inwardly extending foot flange 19 bywhich it is secured as by means of rivets 80 to a lower marginalinwardly extending reinforcing flange 81 on the fender shield and whichmay be further rigidified' and reinforced by an interposed bar 82.

At its upper end, the latching and clamping rod 72 is formed with a camhead 83 engageable in clamping and latching relation with an-upturnedmarginal portion 84 of the fender flange 61. A hook terminal 85 on thehead 83 is adapted to engage with the flange portion 84 for retainingthe fender shield at an intermediate stage in assembly or disassembly,in substantially the same manner as described in connection with thehook terminal 84 in the previously described form of the invention. Thecam head 83 is connected to the body of the rod 12 by means of integralright angularly related offsetting bend 81 whereby the head is adaptedto be swung into and out of latching and clamping camming relation tothe flange portion 84 by rotation of the rod 12 which may be effected bymanipulation of a right angularly extending handle terminal portion 89at the lower end of the rod 12. The terminal portion 89 preferablyextends below the lower marginal flange 8! of the fender shield 89 forconvenient access.

The clamping and latching rod 12 is normally biased downwardly by meanssuch as a coiled expansible tension spring-90, one end of which isfixedly anchored to a rearwardly extending anchoring ear 9| deformedfrom the reinforcing flange Tl while the opposite end is in the form ofa terminal loop 92 anchored within an annular groove 93 in the rod 12and disposed at a substantial elevation above the point of anchorage tothe ear 9|. Thereby, with the biasing spring 90 maintained undertension, it normally acts to draw the rod 12 downwardly.

In addition to drawing the rod 12 downwardly, the biasing spring 90 isso mounted that it draws the rod laterally and outwardly whereby to biasthe lower portion thereof normally into interlocking relation with aninterlock plate 94. This plate is preferably in the form of a flatmember interposed between the foot flange 19 and the top of thereinforcing bar 82 and secured in place by the rivets 80. The interlockplate 94 extends inwardly substantially beyond the edge of the footflange l9 and the fender flange 81 into intersecting relation to thelower end portion of the latching'and clamping rod 12 and is formed withan interlock and guide aperture 95 through which the rod extends.

The lower end portion of the latching and clamping rod 12 is formed withan offset portion 91 providing an interlock operative within theaperture 95 and preferably lying in the plane of the handle terminal 89,which is substantially at right angles to the Vertical plane of the camhead 83 and extending in the general direction of the lateralbiasafforded by the spring 90. Thereby, in the latching and clampingposition of the head 83, the interlock offset 91 is urged into aninterlocking lateral extension slot 98 provided for this purpose at theside of the aperture 95 and so related to the offset 91 that in the fullclamping relation of the head 83, the lower ofisetting bend,

8 identified at 99, is 'i'nterlockingly engaged between the longitudinalwalls of th slot 98. This holds the rod 12 against rotation out of theclamping and latching position. 1

To release the interlock bend 99 from the slot 98, the handle terminal89 is engaged and the rod 12 swung laterally until interlock offset 9'!is clear of the slot 98, as shown in broken outline in Figure 9, theaperture 95 being formed of suflicient width for this purpose. Then therod 12 is adapted to be turned to'carry the interlock offset 91 into anoutward turn-extension I90 of the aperture 95 substantially asshown inFigure 10 which carries the cam head 83 ninetyrdegrees around intonon-latching relation to the flange 84 and positions the hook 85 forengagement with the flange 84 as the biasing spring pulls the rod 12downwardly. At the same time, the'biasing spring 98 draws the rod 12laterally and the interlock offset 91 engages the adjacent side of theaperture 95 whereby the rod 12 is held substantially against furtherturning. When the retaining hook 85 is released from the flange 84 byswinging the fender 69 inwardly and clearing the hook terminal 85, thespring 90acts to snap the rod 72 downwardly until the hook terminal isdisposed below the flange 84 and the offsetting arm 81 comes to restupon bearing tongue 14. At the same time, an upper offsetting shoulderbend ml at the upper end of the interlock offset'9'! in rod 72 comes torest within a clearance notch I02 at the inner side of the aperture 95and holds the rod against promiscuous swinging. This is of advantagewhen the fender shield 69 is laid down on its back, since thereby thehead 80 provides a rest for engagement of the surface upon which thefender shield is laid thus saving the ear (4 and possibly otherstructure from possible bending damage.

In applying the fender shield 69 to the fender 65, the end-supportingbracket structures are first interengaged and the fender shield is thenswung up into assembled relation with the fender whereupon the clampingand latching rod 12 is pushed upwardly in opposition to the bias of thespring 90 until the head 83 is in position to enter into clampingrelation with the flange 84. The rod 12 is then turned 90 until clampingand latching relationship has been effected whereupon the biasing spring99 draws the interlock 91 automatically into the interlock slot 98 andthe latched and clamped relationship of the structure is maintaineduntil intentional release is effected.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination in latching and clamping means for a fender shield, areciprocable and rotary rod, means for supporting and guiding said rod,said rod having a clamping head thereon, means acting upon said rodnormally biasing the same out of the latching and clamping positionthereof, said clamping head being movable into the latching and clampingposition by rotation of the rod, and means partially on the rod andincluding an interlock element and a slotted element in which theinterlock element is engageable for locking the rod against'rotation outof the latching and clamping position and thus preventing said biasingmeans from acting.

I 2.; "In combination lathing and clamping mechanism rora' renar shield,a supporting 'structure,- a vertically reoiprocable and rotatablelatching and"clampi-ng 'rod'carried by said supporting structure, alatching and clamping head at the upper endofsaid rod adapted to bemoved vertically and rotatably-in-tolatching and clamping position-withrespect to} a fender the access 'opiening of which the tendershield isadapted to close, means normally biasing the rod out of the latching andclamping position, means at the lower end-of said rod-for manipulatingthe rod reciprocably and rotatably, and a member past'w-hich thelowerportion of the'rod passes in intersecting relation, said member and saidlower portion of the rod having interengaging interlock means disposedat the'intersection of the rod and member for holdingthe rod againstunintentional turning outof the latching and clamping position thereof.

3.'In combination in a fender shield latching and clam-ping mechanismincluding a supporting structure, 'a' vertical-ly reciprocable androtatable latching and clampingrod carried by said supporting structure;a latching and clamping head at the upper end of'said rod adapted to be'moved vertically and rotatably into latchingand clamping position withrespect to a fender the access opening of which the fender shield isadapted to close, means normally biasing the latching and clamping roddownwardly out of-the latching andclampi-ng positiommeans at the lowerend of said rod for manipulating the rod reciprocably and rotatabl-y, anapertured interlock plate-extending inwardly from the fender shield andintersecting the axis of the latching and clamping rod, said latchingand clamping rod extending throughsaid interlock plate and having aninterlock portion thereon engageable with the interlock plate in thelatching and clamping position of the rod to hold the rod againstunintentional turning out of such position.

Y 4, In combination in vertical latching and clamping mechanism for atender shield, a rotary latching and clamping rod having a wrenchengageable member at the lower-end thereof, a spring interlockengage-able with saidmember and including a leaf spring adaptedto beflexed out of interlocking relation to said member by application of awrench to said member for turning said rod.

5. In combination in latching and clamping mechanism for a fendershield; supporting structure, a latching and clamping rod reciprocablyrotatably supported by said supporting structure, an interlock platehaving an aperture therethrough said rod extending through saidaperturegan; interlocking ofiseton said rod an interlock; slot openinginto said..-aperture and adapted to receive said interlock oiisct thefull clamping and latching position of the rod-,.-and a biasing springacting upon said rod normally to hold it in the interlocked positionwithin said interlock slot.

. v 6 In combination in 1 a1 fender and fender shield, latching andclamping mechanism including a latching and clamping member having alatching and clamping head formed with a cam portion movable intolatching and clamping relation to a flange defining a wheel accessopening in a vfender, means normally biasing said latching and clampingmember out of said latching and clamping relation of the head to saidflange, a retaining hook portion on said head movable into' engagementwith said flange in the initial release of'the headfromthe latching andclamping position bymovement of said cam portion away from said flangeand movement of the head partially toward non-clamping position underthe influence of said biasing means, said biasing meansb'ei-ng adaptedwhen said hook portion is released f-rom' s'aid flange to draw thelatching: and clamping head and said hook portion clear of 1 saidflange, and means for supporting the latching and clamping member in thefully released position. i V

7. In combination in a render and fender shield latching and clampingmechanism including supporting structure, a rotary and reciprocablelatching and clamping member carried by thesupporti-ng structure andhaving a latching and clamping head'formed with a cam portion movable byrotation and rectilinear move ment into latching and [clamping relationto a flange defininga wheel access opening a'fender with which thefender shield is adapted to be associated, means normally biasing saidlatching and clamping member rectilinearljy out of said latching andclamping relation of the head to said flange, a retaining hook on saidhead movable into engagement with said flange in thein'itial release ofthe head from the latching and clamping position by movement of said camportion away from said flange and movementof the head partially towardnon-clamping position under the influence ofsaid biasing means,saidbiasing means being adapted whensajid hook is released from said flangeto draw the latching and a clamping head. and said'hook clearof'said'flange.

means for supporting. the latching and clamping member in the 'fullyreleased position, an-interlock structure including 'means on thelatching and clamping member and'coacting' means associated with thesupporting -structure operative for holding said latchingand clampingmember against rotation from the latching and clamping position of said.head; with respect to sai'd'flange.

8, In a fender shield -latching mechanism adapted to be supported by afender shield for securing the same in closing relation to a wheelaccess opening in a tender, thelatching and clamping mechanism being"adapted for engaging behind a marginal flange structure defining thewheel access opening for clamping the fender I shield in position on thefender, the latching and clamping mechanism comprisinga verticallyextending bracket member adapted to be seouredin position at the backofthe fender shieldand including a foot flange extending inwardly whenin position on the iend'er shielda rectilihea-rly and rotatably movablelatching and clamping element, means adjacent the upper portion of saidbracket for rectilinearly and rotatably guiding said'latchi ngand-clamping element, said element having a latchingandcIamping head atthe upper terminus thereofand means at the lower terminus for engagementto manipulate the same reciproca-bly and rotatably to swing saidl'atchingandclamping head-' into and out of latching andclam-pi-ngposition with respect to the fender, means connected to said latchingand clamping element and having engagement with said bracket fornormally biasing the latching and clamping element in a downwarddirection tending to move it out of the latching and clamping position,the construction and arrangement of said latching and clamping headbeing such that when in the latching and clamping position relat1ve tothe fender it resists downward movement operative with said engagementmeans at the lower end portion of the latching and clamping member. V

. l0. -A latching and clamping structure as defined in claim 8 whereinthe releasable holding means comprises a member serving as a verticalguide for the clamping and latching element and th e latching andclamping element has an intermediate portion 'interlockingly engageablewith said guiding member for holding the latching and clamping elementagainst rotation.

11. A latching and clamping structure as defined in claim 8 wherein thebiasing means comprises a tension spring having one end thereof attachedto the latching and clamping element .and the other end thereof disposedadjacent to one side of the supporting bracket, and the sup- .portingbracket includes a rearwardly extending ear to'which the adjacent end ofthe spring is attached under tension.

12. In combination in latching and clamping mechanism for a fendershield, a vertically disposed rotary latching and clamping rod having awrench-engageable member at the lower end thereof, saidwrench-engageable member having a vertically extending notch therein,and a leaf spring mounted fixedly at one end adjacent to said latchingand clamping rod on an axis transverse to the rod and having an endportion overlying saidwrench-engageable member, said leaf spring havingan interlock finger extending downwardly therefrom and engaging as arotation preventing detent in said notch, said leaf spring being adaptedto be flexed upwardly upon application of atwrench to said memberandupward force against said interlock finger to displace the interlockfinger irom said notch.

13. In combination in latching and clamping structure for a fendershield, a vertical bracket member, a vertically reciprocable and rotarylatching and clamping rod, said bracket member having means affordingbearing and guide for the rod, an ear extending inwardly from thebracket, and a tension spring connected at one end to said ear and attheother end to said rod and normally acting to bias the rod in onedirection.

14. In combination in a fender shield latching and clamping structure,an elongated bracket, a rotary and reciprocable latching membersupported by said bracket, said member having a limited range of lateralmovement at one end, and a biasing spring connected between said memberand the bracket at one side of the member and biasing the member bothlongitudinally and laterally.

15 For use in a fender shield assembly, a clamping and latching rodto bemounted at the inner side of a fender shield panel, means for supportingthe rod for rotary and reciprocable movements, said rod having avertically extending body portion with manipulating means at the lowerend of the body portion and a clamping head on the upperend of the bodyportion; said clamping head being adapted to be operatively locatedadjacent to the upper margin of the fender shield panel and comprising aportion extending laterally from the body of the rod, another portionextending upwardly and at an angle to the extremity of said lateralportion, and a terminal portion extending in reverse direction to saidlateral portion generally toward the body portion whereby to aiford 'asubstantially open loop hook-shape for said head; said terminal portionbeing in substantially spaced relation to said lateral portion; said rodbeing guided by said supporting means for vertical movement to carrysaid head from a position wherein th upwardly extending portion andterminal portion are generally opposite the upper edge of the fendershield panel to a position Where they are depressed substantially belowsaid upper edge whereby in the upper position of the head it is adaptedto make clamping engagement with the margin of a lender with which thefender shield may be assembled, and in the depressed position the headclears said margin of the fender in the mounting or dismounting of thefender shield; said terminal portion being engageable in an intermediateposition between the upper and depressed positions of the head with aninwardly extending marginal flange on the fender for holding the fendershield in an interim partially open position.

16. In combination, supporting means, a latching and clamping membercarried by said supporting means and adapted to be manipulated intolatching and clamping position, said member being rotatable, interlockstructure carried by said member, and an interlock bar having interlocknotches therein operatively located adjacent to said interlockstructure, said interlock structure being engageable selectively in saidnotches for maintaining said member non-rotatable in any selected one ofa plurality of positions to which it may be rotated.

GEORGE W. SCHATZMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 167,624 Share Sept. 14, 18751,064,313 Garlock June 10, 1913 1,548,907 Schweim Aug. 11, 19252,113,753 Wilson Apr. 12, 1938 2,334,867 Fer-gueson Nov. 23, 1943FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 284,258 Great Britain Sept. 6, 1928

